Man accused of scrawling offensive graffiti

Newmarket man faces weapon charges

Hate-crime charges are being considered against a Newmarket man accused of leaving offensive and racially charged graffiti around town.

Brian Croall, 44, was in court Wednesday on other charges after police made what they said is the biggest seizure of weapons they can recall.

In August, Croall was convicted of reckless conduct for shooting a gun in the parking lot of a Seabrook bar. He had moved into his deceased father's home in Newmarket a few years ago, and neighbors had complained to police about his behavior.

A few of more than a dozen road signs on Main Street still show traces of what investigators said were derogatory and offensive messages left in the days after the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial.

Police said Croall is facing charges of criminal mischief and criminal threatening for posting offensive and threatening signs at 20 Durrell Drive, where he lives. While executing a search warrant this week relating to the investigation, officers said they discovered a big cache of weapons.

"They found 39 guns," said prosecutor Michael DiCroce. "Some of them were loaded. They found over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, and they also found evidence that supported the theory that he is the one that was writing derogatory things on the signs."

Defense attorney Joe Plaia entered a plea of not guilty for Croall at his arraignment on charges of being a felon in possession of firearms, saying the weapons are not Croall's.

"His father was an avid gun collector and hunter and had been for years, and they belong to his father," Plaia said.

Officials said they consider Croall to be dangerous.

"The three neighbors that were specifically threatened do have concerns for their safety," DiCroce said. "Given the fact of what he wrote -- the swastika, the derogatory terms towards African-Americans, Hispanics, gays, elderly -- I think he is a danger to his community. Those guns weren't just sitting there. They were loaded."

Croall remains in county jail on $25,000 cash bail on the graffiti-related charges and an additional $50,000 on felony firearms and drug charges.

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